tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post2961232212859776833..comments2024-02-05T05:29:03.549-07:00Comments on GIY: Goth It Yourself: Goths and DepressionJ.Banehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-63047983885825923622015-09-11T19:24:00.617-06:002015-09-11T19:24:00.617-06:00Well said, and I agree! I've never thought of ...Well said, and I agree! I've never thought of goth culture as depressing. If I had to spend my life masquerading as someone else (someone "normal")... now, that would be depressing.J.Banehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-51737229436302584682015-09-11T14:34:34.910-06:002015-09-11T14:34:34.910-06:00I started reading the article and found myself get...I started reading the article and found myself getting annoyed. As a goth who has suffered with mental health issues for a big chunk of my life I object to the conclusion that being goth is somehow linked to being depressed. I was always drawn to the romance and beauty of the gothic way of life and subculture and don't find anything about it depressing. If anything it's been uplifting and a really positive part of my life. The times when I've felt most alone and isolated have been when I've not felt like I was being true to myself. I've also worked in mental health for the past 15 years and people with mental health issues such as depression come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Kitkathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17556485243215019998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-64144903636812820842015-09-05T11:00:08.383-06:002015-09-05T11:00:08.383-06:00Thanks! It has been wonderful how many people shar...Thanks! It has been wonderful how many people shared their feelings about this without a lot of melodrama.J.Banehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-29802808915808419052015-09-04T05:52:51.356-06:002015-09-04T05:52:51.356-06:00This is a great article, so glad to see others sha...This is a great article, so glad to see others sharing their take on this study!Laura Morriganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402692693911867276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-50013336150197401012015-09-03T19:30:10.022-06:002015-09-03T19:30:10.022-06:00Exactly. And how were the teenagers interviewed? W...Exactly. And how were the teenagers interviewed? Were they in private or in a peer group? Kids show off and will try to outdo each other. I see it in class all the time. Now, if they want real answers they should have been tracking Goths from teenagehood through their 40s and 50s. THAT would tell them a thing or two ... wait, wasn't there a study about that already? Didn't they conclude that Goths were some of the most well-adjusted and "normal" people. Yes, yes they did. And there you have it.Doctor Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10990742017081696114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-38116683673519529962015-09-03T18:46:11.680-06:002015-09-03T18:46:11.680-06:00Good points. Researchers sometimes think they know...Good points. Researchers sometimes think they know the conclusion prior to the research, then see only the data that support their conclusion. Did the teens give an honest answer or the answer they thought they should give? How does one get reliable data from teens, short of mind reading?J.Banehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-2999621251655295532015-09-03T09:10:16.980-06:002015-09-03T09:10:16.980-06:00I really had a problem with this study -- a BIG PR...I really had a problem with this study -- a BIG PROBLEM. As someone who deals with late teenagers for a living, they are a hormonal, depressed, perky, and wildly rebellious bunch. I like to call them "woolly". Teenagers who are Goths, or guidos (Jersey Shore Kids), or anything will exhibit ALL of the woolly tendencies. Teenagers who rebel with Goth either might think they should be depressed and therefore answered accordingly, or the researchers were looking harder for depression in Goths. It's like the stereotype of guidos always wanted to party and fight. Sure, I've seen them do it all my life ... but I know quite a few Goths who party very hard and end up in fist fights by the end of the night, breaking the stereotype that "Goths don't fight." Hell, I've been in a fist fight or two ... or more ... <br /><br />The "researchers" are using teenagers -- a woolly bunch of humans -- and are working in the stereotype of Goth. From an academic's point of view, their whole premise and their results are completely biased, horribly constructed, and completely flawed.Doctor Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10990742017081696114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-21557205737065142542015-09-02T19:07:38.395-06:002015-09-02T19:07:38.395-06:00Well said! It's unfortunate that a search for ...Well said! It's unfortunate that a search for understanding is often misinterpreted as intentional rebellion.<br /><br />Khaki pants! Oh, the flashbacks to high school dress code! When I graduated, I swore I would never wear khaki pants again... and I haven't.J.Banehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-48067734452302038752015-09-02T18:58:08.026-06:002015-09-02T18:58:08.026-06:00Indeed. I think she published just after I schedul...Indeed. I think she published just after I scheduled my post.<br /><br />Though I'm not entirely comfortable with their definitions, I think the study authors gave a balanced report. Unlike the media, who always embellish with unnecessary drama. :P<br /><br />Thank you! The goth blogger community is certainly a big help to me. :)J.Banehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-41473573948884003902015-09-02T18:51:46.729-06:002015-09-02T18:51:46.729-06:00Well said! My parents always thought I'd be ha...Well said! My parents always thought I'd be happier if I could fit in somewhere. That was true... but only if it was the right group. Unfortunately, the academic clubs and church groups only made me feel more rejected.<br /><br />Open-minded, supportive friends are absolutely priceless. :)J.Banehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-16721615018983207302015-09-02T18:32:46.949-06:002015-09-02T18:32:46.949-06:00Thank you! Calm and to the point... that's a ...Thank you! Calm and to the point... that's a very accurate description of me as well. :D I'm not exciting at parties, but I have mad analytical skills. ;)J.Banehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195276109146618481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-51449705432255741002015-09-02T16:05:51.526-06:002015-09-02T16:05:51.526-06:00I recognize alot of this. I also did not find and ...I recognize alot of this. I also did not find and delve into the alternative scene until I was an adult - but I have been depressed my whole life. Conformity, gym cards, 2.3 kids, couples dinners and khaki pants were never going to be in my future. I have always taken the different path and "rebellion" was what the process looked like, but it was always about searching for comfort and understanding.Ms Misantropiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021724750085104087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-25727739708386713442015-09-02T11:07:48.175-06:002015-09-02T11:07:48.175-06:00Laura Morrigan also wrote about this study. I agre...Laura Morrigan also wrote about this study. I agree with you that the conclusions that the mainstream media draw are not what the scientists intended. Also, all of your concerns are correct and have been mentioned by the study authors - which have been overlooked by the reporters like in so many other cases! <br /><br />I hope that goth keeps you from depression for the rest of your life!Leneleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07182680654861239740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-77317227340675851082015-09-02T07:49:18.548-06:002015-09-02T07:49:18.548-06:00I definitely agree with pretty much everything you...I definitely agree with pretty much everything you wrote here. I struggle with depression and have since I was a child; long before I even knew what goth was. Being able to identify with a group of people that accept that sometimes things aren't all sunshine and roses and that is okay (and even sometimes preferred) has been a better help in learning to live with and cope with my depression/anxiety than all the prayers and pastels everyone else tried to shove at me for all those years. <br />Some people are not perky and bubbly and we shouldn't try to force them to be that way. I consider myself lucky to have made it through the part of my life where everyone tried to change me (and basically told me I was wrong for wanting to be who I knew I was), and have been able to make friends (both online and IRL) that accept me for who I am and support me as well. They're not all goth either, but they're open minded enough to let me be me and when they see me getting a little down, encouraging me to do the gothy things that make my dark heart sing. <br />Thank you for making public what so many of us feel.Stephanie P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13658033207903210456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9176007711635280067.post-88590160506290441352015-09-02T06:23:36.943-06:002015-09-02T06:23:36.943-06:00It was so nice to read this, it was calm and to th...It was so nice to read this, it was calm and to the point. You questioned the amount of research and pointed out how many maybes there are when trying to make conclusions from statistics. Loved this post! :)Jadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17657394873058225387noreply@blogger.com